| Special Rifle "Alcatraz" Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Батальйон Алькатрас 93 бригади | |
 Battalion insignia | |
| Active | July 2024 [1] – present |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type | Shkval Battalion |
| Size | 250 |
| Garrison/HQ | Cherkaske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast |
| Nickname(s) | 'Alcatraz' (Official) |
| Engagements | Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander "Validol" [2] |
The Special Rifles Alcatraz Battalion is a penal battalion currently operating as part of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" on the eastern front of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Fighting in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Chasiv Yar [3] areas of the Donetsk regions under Commander Validol, the battalion consists of prison inmates who have volunteered to serve militarily, prematurely ending their sentences. Selection for recruits began in July 2024, by August the battalion was engaging in missions.
Since December 2024, Canadian volunteer April Huggett has been serving as a combat medic and PR officer for the Alcatraz Battalion. [4]